Summary PM Nawaz Sharif arrived in Washington on a four-day official visit to the United States.
WASHINGTON (Online): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif arrived in Washington on Sunday night on a four-day official visit to the United States for talks with President, Barack Obama on a host of issues.
A White House spokesman said President Obama and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will hold talks on Wednesday.
They will discuss ways to strengthen bilateral trade and economic cooperation‚ counter-terrorism efforts by Pakistan and its effects on its economy‚ will also be discussed during the talks.
The two sides will avail the opportunity to deliberate on regional peace and security issues.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will also interact with key senior US Administration officials and Congressional leaders on the Capitol Hill.
Earlier, talking to newsmen in London‚ Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif reiterated that drone attacks are against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan and he would discuss the issue again with the American leaders during his visit to the United States.
He said Pakistan raised its concern in the UN General Assembly and the world appreciated it.
The Prime Minister said our stand regarding the drone attacks is clear and there is no duplicity in our policy.
About talks with Taliban he stressed the need for serious efforts and the efforts should also be made from the other side. He said all parties agreed to talks with Taliban and we start talk but then violence erupts and things get off track.
On Kashmir‚ the Prime Minister said in his US visit in July 1999‚ he had clearly told President Clinton that if the US intervened‚ Kashmir issue could be resolved.
Nawaz Sharif said that President Clinton promised‚ but then things changed. He said India and Pakistan both are nuclear powers and the region is a nuclear flash point. He said though India did not want such intervention‚ but the world powers should get involved to resolve the issue.
Replying a question about civil nuclear technology‚ the Prime Minister said it is Pakistan s legitimate right to benefit from it and he would take up the issue with the US leaders.
Talking about post-NATO pull-out situation in Afghanistan‚ the Prime Minister said Pakistan had its own place and role to play.
The Prime Minister said he would also attend trilateral conference on Afghanistan with President Hamid Karzai and Prime Minister David Cameron in UK during his upcoming visit to the UK. He said we will try to restart our efforts for peace in Afghanistan.
